We’re really proud to be leading this pioneering project, working alongside our partners, and welcoming new residents to this unique development.
What is Project 80?
The UK has set a legally binding target to bring all its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Construction is a big contributor to this, so the Government will introduce new Building Standards, known as the Future Homes Standard, in 2025.
These developments are believed to be the first of its kind in the country and the average home will have 80% less carbon emissions than one built now.
Our ambition is that Project 80 can understand key methods, building types and technologies that can be used to meet the standard.
Based on that understanding, we aim to create key considerations around successfully meeting the standard, which will be both useful to us and the wider industry.
Tony Hopkin, Head of Construction and Quality
With Project 80, we are:
Identifying the information requirements of our residents along with the most suitable method of disseminating that information
Evaluating the performance of different products and technologies (both technically and from a user perspective)
Understanding design principles that work well and should be adopted as standard
Limiting any problems to a controlled environment and establishing what changes need to be made to overcome them, to avoid them becoming the norm in 2025
Establishing methods to ensure value for money whilst maintaining performance
Allowing us to make Future Homes decisions based on rigorous empirical evidence
The houses look like traditional brick construction however, the methods of construction and the materials used have been innovatively developed and applied to improve the thermal efficiency of the properties.
Chris Miller, Director of Development, at Midland Heart
Set against various footage of building construction for Eco Drive, the following sentences appear:
This research and development programme will develop and monitor 80 homes that meet the Future Homes Standard.
Eco Drive, Handsworth, is home to the first 12 houses developed as part of this programme.
Traditionally built from locally-sourced products and incorporating low and zero carbon technologies to satisfy an 80% carbon dioxide emission reduction.
A fabric-first approach and renewable technologies generate energy and reduce energy consumption. Running costs are reduced by 65% - a significant cost saving for residents.
Data and findings from Project 80 will be used to inform a government-led technical consultation on the Future Buildings Standard and will be disseminated to the wider housing sector.
Their open-source attitude to sharing sets them apart. The wealth of information on what works will help countless company’s deliver more sustainable projects. - CABE Awards Panel
First development
Eco Drive
“It’s a great project that showcases brilliant collaboration between organisations and meets all of the climate change requirements, whilst also shining a spotlight on the region.” - Andy Street, Former Mayor of the West Midlands
You can see the interim report of our first development Eco Drive, by clicking on the button below. It covers everything from the cost, design and construction, to the lessons learnt and recommendations going forward:
Our second development, Elvetham Road, was featured in the BBC series, We Are England. In the programme, ex pro-footballer Scott Golbourne and his business partner were shown the technology we used, to learn about ways they can lower their tenants' bills, while they develop 20 sustainable properties of their own. You can see the episode here – Money and Me: A Home without Bills? (starting at 21:25 in the programme).
Ground-breaking and market-leading piece of research that we are proud to be involved with.
Cliff Fudge, H+H Director – External Affairs
This project is a collaboration between product suppliers, academic researchers from Birmingham City University, specialist contractors, architects, local building contractors, and the Building Alliance. Without your support, this would not be possible and we'd like to thank everyone of you.
